This Month in Social Media

One reason social media is fun and addictive is that networks are constantly changing. New filters, hashtags, photos — not to mention the new platforms — that emerge all the time. The opportunities to entertain oneself with social media are endless. So let’s take a look at the state of social media.

What’s NewInstagram revealed a new logo and application experience. Gone are the days of the retro polaroid-esque glyph and the familiar blue bar across your feed. Now the original blue, yellow, green and red colors have been replaced with a logo that one Adweek commenter said makes the application very “Apple.” We can’t say we don’t agree, random Adweek commenter. The app’s feed is barren of color aside from the photos and usernames.

Instagram noted that the minimalist design was in part to focus on users’ photos and videos. The inside of the app is much better than the redesigned logo. More on that in “What’s Questionable.”

What’s CoolTaco Bell. And Snapchat. Everyone loves a taco, and you can’t beat getting a taco for a under a dollar. What’s even better is that Taco Bell, a Snapchat veteran, created a sponsored filter in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. Not one to miss a party, Taco Bell shattered records with 224 million views of the filter in one day, which is 136 percent more views than the previous record holder, Gatorade. For reference, Gatorade’s sponsored filter for this year’s Super Bowl resulted in 165 million views.

What makes this cool to marketing lovers? The campaign received 12.5 years’ worth of play in a single day, which means every single viewers saw Taco Bell’s logo (along with their friends’ taco face). In short: Snapchat is here to stay. If you’re not on board yet, you should be.

What’s InterestingA new Twitter and Annalect study found that 40 percent of respondents say they’ve purchased an item online after seeing an influencer use it on a social media platform (like Twitter, Instagram, Vine or YouTube). The study also found that 56 percent of respondents said they rely on recommendations from friends, and 49 percent rely on recommendations from influencers.

So the next time you want to push out a new social campaign think about your influencers and tap into their social clout. Can they connect with your audience in a more authentic way? Why not try an influencer campaign and see how it works with your overall social media strategy. You might be surprised!

What’s QuestionableWe don’t want to overkill this whole Instagram change, but come on. Have you seen the new logo? If Instagram changing their algorithm last month wasn’t enough, this new logo will surely do some people in! Do you love it? Hate it? We’re pretty split at Trilix. Some can sympathize with wanting a new, more modern glyph, while some of us can’t accept change and want the old logo back.

Let us know how you feel about all these new updates to the social world. Tweet (@Trilix), Snap (TrilixMarketing), Instagram (@TrilixMarketing) or Facebook us (Trilix) with your thoughts!